narrate

American  

[nar-eyt, na-reyt] / ˈnær eɪt, næˈreɪt /

verb (used with object)

narrated, narrating

1. to give an account or tell the story of (events, experiences, etc.).

   Synonyms:

   recite, detail

2. to add a spoken commentary to (a film, television program, etc.).

   The Oscar-winning actor recently produced and narrated a new documentary on climate change.

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verb (used without object)

narrated, narrating

1. to relate or recount events, experiences, etc., in speech or writing.

narrate British  

/ nəˈreɪt /

verb

1. to tell (a story); relate

2. to speak in accompaniment of (a film, television programme, etc)

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Related Words

See describe.

Other Word Forms

• misnarrate
  verb
• narratable
  adjective
• narrater
  noun
• narrator
  noun
• unnarratable
  adjective
• unnarrated
  adjective
• well-narrated
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of narrate

First recorded in 1650–60; from Latin narrātus (past participle of narrāre ”to relate, tell, say”), equivalent to nār(us) “knowing, acquainted with” (variant of gnārus; see cognition) + -ātus -ate ¹

Explanation

When you tell a story or describe something out loud, you narrate. You might hire a well-known actor to narrate your documentary film about circus elephants. One way to narrate is to comment on or describe visual images — photographs or scenes in a film, for example. You can also narrate a story simply by relaying the details aloud. In books, a character sometimes narrates the story as well. It appears that narration, or the action of telling a story, came before narrate, from the Latin root narrare, "to tell, relate, or recount," or literally, "to make acquainted with."

Example Sentences

As the concert began to draw to a close, the BBC announced that Sir David will soon narrate another new natural history series, Blue Planet III.

From BBC • May 8, 2026

Israeli filmmaker Nadav Lapid thinks sometimes movies can change history; other times they simply narrate it.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

Giroux said, It is an attempt to discipline public memory by intimidating those who refuse to narrate the nation as innocent.

From Salon • Mar. 2, 2026

Otherwise, the book is entirely complimentary, as it proceeds to narrate Mr. Dylan’s subsequent lengthy creative rebirth.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 6, 2026

“You know, Albert, you kind of talk like those guys who narrate the movies at school. From the History Channel and stuff.”

From "Fish in a Tree" by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

Related Words

• chronicle
• depict
• portray
• recite
• recount
• rehearse
• unfold